Material handling apparatus



June 28, 1960 w. D. sToNE 2,942,716

v MATERIAL HANDLNG APPARATUS Filed Aug. 1s, 195e 4 sheets-sheet 1 :FISE

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l JV VE N T0 R. .WM/fawn@ .5210/25 B Y A Troma-'K June 28, 1960 w. D. STONE y 2,942,716

MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 18, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 [.VVENTOR.

A T TCPA/EV June 28, 1960 w. D. STONE 2,942,716

MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 18, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VENTOR.

ATTORNEY W. D. STONE MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS June 28, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 [.VVENTOR, //////a/22 5210/@ A TTOR/VEV Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Fixed Aug. 1s,19ss, ser. No. 755,768

1o claims. (ci. 19a- 19) This invention relates to material handling apparatus and more particularly to a device for receiving, 4tipping and raising a parts container to make 4the parts therein accessible to an assembly line operator.

There has been much diculty in the past, in assembly line production, in maintaining a supply of small parts in an easily accessible position relative to lthe assembly line operator. The parts are generally stored, and 'transferred from place to place, in a container, Vsuch as a gondola or the like, the transferral and moving from place to place being accomplished through the use of fork trucks or other factory vehicles. ln placing the gondola or container near the assembly line so that the operator may take the parts one by one from the container, a fork truck generally deposits the container adiacent the assembly line. The operator must bend over to remove parts, with increasing diiculty as the parts are used up, providing a very diiiicult operation. It is costly and time consuming, and particularly objectionable in a facility in which time is very important.

The device in whichjthis invention is embodied comprises an apparatus which receives l'a gondola or Ycontainer full of parts, tips the gondola so that the parts are 'at arm level with respect to the operator, and in such a position that he need not bend over and reach into the entire depth of the container to pick out the parts. When the gondola is empty, the apparatus raises the gondola to `an outlet conveyor and allows a second gondola to enter with a minimum of operator eort. The resulting over alloperation conserves much time in the assembly line production and provides a great savings in assembly line costs and operator eiiort.

ln the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective View Vof the 'apparatus with parts broken away and in section to illustrate the location of the various parts.

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the apparatuswith parts broken away and in section to show the various positions and location ofthe parts.

Figure 3 is a lfront elevational view taken substantially along the line 3-'-3 of Figure 2 and looking the direction of the arrows with parts broken away and in section to illustrate the parts of the apparatus.

Figure 4 is a plan view taken substantially in the plane of the line 4-4 of Figure 2 and looking the direction of the arrows to illustrate the location of the parts. Referring more particularly to the drawings it may be generally seen in Figures l through 4 that the apparatus consists of several major parts. The frame, illustrated generally by the numeral 10, supports a carriage assembly 20 in which is received the parts container or 'gondola 12. A pair of hydraulic cylinders, illustrated generally by the numeral 30, are secured to the frame and, through a pulley and cable arrangement, actuate the carriage, to first tip and secondly raise the carriage assembly and the gondola contained therein. A conveyor system, consisting of up'- per and lower conveyors 40 and 42 respectively, transfer the full gondola into the carriage assembly for use of the taes listet 2,942,716 Patented June 28, 1960 paftslhefen .by the .aseinbly lili@ sperato. 'rd .transfts the emptyl container from the carriage into the apparatus when Vthe parts have been used and the operator is ready for asecond container. The various parts will be described hereinafter in more detail.

lT he'frarnelt) isl constructed ots'teel, or other suitable material, and is generally of channel and I beam construction. Four vertical posts, lc :omprisingthe -rearposts and the front posts `104, are disposed at the fourjcorners of the apparatus. Cross rails, Vsuch as the ztop side 106, the bottom side rails 108,'the vfront and'rear bott'rh fails, 119 and the fran? 10p rail .112', are ,Connected tothe corner posts. The rear posts 102 vare formed from channel steel ofv sulilcient strength to provide 'the necessary support. The front posts 104 are constructed oil beams as are the rails '106 The `bottom rails and the fro r 1t top rails, A108, '.110 and N112 respectively, areconstructed of angle or channel V steel of 'suicient size and strength to provide adequate support. The posts and vrai-ls "are joined in any suitable manner, as by weldingor riveting, to form a rigid superstructurefor the entire aparatus. On either side of Athe frame and toward the rear vof the frame is a cam track 114, locatedpart Way between the upper and lower `frame rails 106 ai 1d 1 08. A supporting post 116 is secured to one end ofthe cam track secured to the upper rail 106. The other en d of the cam track iswelded,l'or otherwise secureitothe 1- ear post 1:02. VThe purpose and function yof the above'inentioned camtrack will be later described. y Three sides of the machine are covered, or partially covered, by the side'end and plates I ZQMrespecrtit/,dr The Slide plates. 118 af@ faned ttbmpletely dass the Side 'Ogf the appafafuefld xtendbetwen ,this front and rear posts ltwandultlfl. frio tplate 120 is attached to the. lewef fal 1.102111@ the' tfpQ'StslM The front plate @friends .only partially inthe apparatus @permit aCCeSS t9 the .imertl'r the. as sgmhl' line ,Qprir tor: Giisstplats 12,2mayfbap1'avifted 'fhlroa'shutth frame structure where necessary to provide the proper strength. The carriage '20 is also constructed generally of 1channel steel and 1 beams. "the bfftqm aus` 2102. and, theY from and rear rails 2.04 providethenecessary baseframe for the carriage. Vertical corner posts 206 at the front and the rear of the carriage provide support for the upper rails 2.08 and the front pivot assembly, whichwill be later described, Intermediate posts 2,10 provide support for the cable pull block and give added strengthto the carriage assembly. A plur'lit'v 0f rollers 21.2 are provided Q11 the carriage assembly for ease is movementof a gondola 4 or :ontaine'r onto the carriagefrom the conveyor 42. The rollers 212 are .supported between the s ide rails 202 and the inter; mediate rails 2.14, the intermediate rails being properly spaced bythe spacerblockszl.

The forward end ,of the carnage assembly is provided with a pivot rod 21S supported by the corner posts 206 and the center post 220. Pivotblockslz are welded or otherwise secured to theposts 206V and 2f 20 receivethe pivot rod 2,18. Slide blocks Mldisposedon each end of the pivot rod 218. are 'received betweehthe flanges of frame corner post l beams 1h04 to guide the vertical move; ment o f the carriage assembly in thegbeams 104. Proper Suppen for the intermediate post 2.2% and. for the from end ofthercarriage'assenibly is provided by the interml diate cross members 2 26.

A pair 0f camsalisecured to; @nl blockszmare mounted on thesides of thecarriageasSembly beneath the cam track of the frame The cams 228, when the carriage is niov'ed upwardly, will engage track 114 and are adapted to move along the camrtrack, bearing against the underside of thel horizontal', legiotthe am track angle 114. Cable pull blocks 232 are Ving into' the apparatus.

secured to the'intermediate carn'age actuating cable in a suitable manner.

The piston'and cylinder assemblies 30 aresecured to theerear frame posts. 102 andy consist of cylinders 302 which have conventional'pistons therein. The cylinder heads'4304 and the closure members atthe bottom 306 Y are held together by`tie bolts 308. 'Ihe piston rods 310 i extend through'suitable bushings 312 in the bottom closure posits 210 and receive the! members306. Air inlet and outlet passages 314 and 316 Vareconnected to the'cylinder heads and to the closure members 306 `and suitably connected to an air means of any conventional type. A yoke 318 is secured tothe end of each of the piston rods 310Y and each carries` `a sheave wheel 320 on an Supply axle shaftY 322 through the arms of the yoke member. A cable, or rope of suitable strength, 324 is secured to the frame, as at326, and passes around the sheave wheel and'over the pulleys 328 attached to the top rails 106 of .the frame10.V The cables extend to the cable pull blocks 232 mounted on the carriage assembly 20. It may be seen that as the Ypiston and sheave wheel move downwardly, with the cable 3 24 attached to the frame as at 326, the carriage assembly` will be raised.

'I'he conveyors 40 and 42 may be attached to the frame posts 102 and rear bottom rail 110, or they may be-placed adjacent the machine and not connected. A pluralityl of vertical posts 402 and cross rails 404 support the roller conveyors. The rollers 406 are secured between the longitudinalV rails 408 and "areslightly inclined with respect'.V to the apparatus to provide a gravityY freed for the gondola or parts container. The lower conveyor Y '42 is inclined toward themachine and the'upper conveyor 44 vis inclined-away fromthe4 machine.r Gondola vstops 410 are located betwee'nthe apparatus andthe lower conveyor to Vprovide a stop for incoming carswhen the 1 carriage assembly is full. The stop 410`rnay beactuated 'Ihe operation of theY apparatus is as follows:V The apofthe carriage assembly and the gondola in the direction of the assembly line operator. The slide blocks 224 then move upwardly, Aguiding the carriage assembly, caused by the tension in the cable 324, and the cams rolling along the track 114, move the rear endV of the carriage assembly toward the rear of the apparatus. The piston continues to move downwardlyV until the slideblocks 224 contact the stop blocks 124 located betweenthe flanges of the I beams 104, at which time the rear end of the carriage assembly is adjacent the upper conveyor 40.

The carriage assembly is slightly canted .toward the conveyor assembly so that gravity will move the empty gondola from the carriage assembly and onto-the upper conveyor 40. 'l`his position is shown in Figure 2 in dashed and dotted lines, the carriage assembly being inits uppermost indicated position and the sheave wheel being in its lowermost indicated position.

The operator may now move the air switch 330 to the exhaust position and the weight of the carriage assembly is suicient to force the sheave wheel 320, piston rod 310 and piston upwardly into the cylinder 302 and expel the air through the conduit 314. The carriageV assembly will then lower to the position indicated in Figure 2 in dashed and dotted lines adjacent the lower conveyor assembly 42.V The conveyor limit stop 410 is then actuated to Yallow a second gondola to enter the carriage assembly and the-cycle is repeated. l

j It may be noted that any. length may be provided for the conveyor assemblies and 42. At the beginning ofthe days work, threeor more'full gondolas may be placed onthe lower conveyor andA any empty gondolas Vremoved from' the upper conveyor 40. Presuming the operators daily requirements to be three or more gondola cars, it may beseen that only one filling `operation is necessary for-the lower conveyor 42., y

It is notjdesired to limit this application toassernbly line facilities, as it may be applicable toany installation where small parts are stored in gondolas or other containers, nor is it desired Vto limit the invention to the particular means for operating the structure as described. A pair of hydraulic, pneumatic or air-draulic cylinders,

oran electric motor and drive unit, could be used dependchine and away from the production line. It maybe seen i then ,that a container or gondola may be gravity fed along the lower conveyor 42,'past the stop V410 and onto the rollers 212 of the carriage assembly 20. The

stop- 410 is then'raised to prevent further cars from pass- The operator then actuates` al conventional air-switch, illustrated generally by the numeral-330, which may be of any well known construction but preferably. being a three position switch. PositionsV 1V and 3 would be airinlet` and outlet to the air .cylinder 3702 andposition 2.0i theswitch would be a hold position I that is'neitherair inlet nor airV exhaust. f 1

j VAS the gondola moves onto .the .conveyorassembly 20,Y the .operator would put; the switch 330 at the air'inlet position, whichfwould force .the piston in the cylinder Y and .pistonlrod will act against the cable 324, Vdrawing in the-iside posts 104. VThe carriageassernblyV .and pivot blocks 222 rotate about the rod 218,11ntilthe cams 228 Y contactthe camV track 114. The carriage assembly andV sheave 'wheel A would be' in Vthe position Vshown inY full lines Y Vsembly line operator for removalof Apa'rtsV 1 whenY the. gondola er containers empty, and nie" iii '302downwardly carryingVV the piston Vrod u310 and Ythe v sheave wheel 320. It may be see'that Ythe sheave wheel 60. Y aid'fsaidf.'secondiconveyor means-transferringsaid'parts ing upon the application location, the vload rating quirem'ents and economies of operatiom I claim: f.

L Means for making a 'parts Ycontainer available to an assembly line comprising a frame, carriage' means slidably and pivotally secured in said frame, means for iirst tipping and secondly raising'. said carriage means, and conveyor vmeans Yfor transferring part-s centainers into and out of said carriage means and saidY frame `when said carriage means is properly positioned with respects thereto. Y

2. Means for making available a lpartslstorag'e .containertoj an assembly line comprising a frame, a' carriage slidably and pivotally received in said'frame, roller means in said carriage for receiving a parts storage. container, hydraulic -means Vfor VfirstV tipping and secondly raising said arriageand thepartscontainer received thereinyandY Vfirst and second conveyor Y' means. adjacent said trame,

said first conveyor, means.transferringY said parts con-` tainer Vto said Vcarriage .wnensaid parts Vcontainer is full i container from; said'carriage means when '-said'p'art'sconeratr'orj desires-a full containenthe-air'switch 330. is again actuated tO'thefairinletj position. f YThe. piston is further '3. A device for making. partslcontain'ers avaable to a production assemblyjline' comprising `a frame, carriage meansV receivablerin Ysaid frame, slide blocks'secured to Y l said carriage means and receivable in said frame to Yguide YVin,Figurel2. -The gondola-is then-accessibleto the as- Y .the verticalY movemnet of 'said .carriage means, means -securedto said'framefordirst tipping and secondly raising said carriager means Yin 'saidV Yframe, and conveyor means adjacent saidffranie for transferring j parts containers toandfrQm said carriageV means when said carriage `means isfprroperly positioned withvrespect thereto. Y. 4. Ydevieefor Areceiving `and tipping a parts container for accessibility to a production vassembly line comprising a frame, a carriage slidably and pivotally receivable in said frame, roller means in said carriage to receive parts containers therein, slide blocks secured to said carriage and slidably received in said frame to guide the vertical movement of said carriage within said frame, pivot means secured to said carriage and received in said frame to allow pivotal movement of said carriage within said frame and about the forward end of said carriage, cam means secured to said carriage and abutting said frame at the upper limit of the pivotal movement of said carriage to prevent further pivotal move` ment of said carriage about the front end thereof, hydraulic means secured to said frame and operatively connected to said carriage to rst pivot said carriage yand secondly raise said carriage and the parts container received therein, and conveyor means Vadjacent said frame to transfer a parts container to and from said carriage when said carriage is properly positioned with respect thereto.

5. Apparatus for receiving and tipping a parts container for accessibility to a production assembly line comprising a frame, carriage means slidably and pivotally secured in said frame, hydraulic means secured to said frame, cables operatively secured to said hydraulic means and said carriage to slide and raise said carriage within said frame, and conveyor means adjacent said frame to transfer a parts container to and from said carriage means when said carriage means is properly positioned with respect thereto.

6. Apparatus for receiving and tipping a parts container for accessibility to a production assembly line comprising a frame, carriage means slidably and pivotally secured in said frame, an hydraulic cylinder secured to said rame and having a piston therein and a piston rod extending axially therefrom, a sheave wheel rotatably secured to the outer end of said piston rod, a pulley secured to said frame above said carriage means, a cable secured at one end to said frame and passing around said sheave Wheel and around said pulley and secured at its other end to said carriage means to first pivot and secondly raise said carriage means upon actuation of said piston Within said cylinder, and conveyor means adjacent said frame to transfer a parts container to and from said carriage means when said carriage means is properly positioned with respect thereto.

7. The apparatus defined in claim 6 having a plurality of cylinders secured to said frame, a piston having a piston rod in each of said cylinders, a sheave Wheel rotatably secured to each of said piston rods, and a plurality of cables secured to said frame and to said carriage means and each being actuated by one of said pistons and said associated sheave Wheel to first tip and secondly raise said carriage means within said frame.

S. Apparatus for receiving and tipping a parts container for accessibility to a production assembly line comprising a frame, carriage means slidably and pivotally secured in said frame, an air cylinder secured to said frame and having a piston therein and a piston rod axially extending therefrom, air inlet and exhaust means operatively connected to said cylinder to actuate said piston therewithin, cable and pulley means secured to said frame and to said piston rod and to said carriage to first tip and secondly raise said carriage with actuation of said piston, and conveyor means secured to said frame to transfer a parts container to and from said carriage means when said carriage means is properly position with respect thereto.

9. Apparatus for tipping and raising a parts container for accessibility to a production assembly line comprising a frame, carriage means slidably and pivotally secured in said frame, means secured to said frame and operatively connected Ito said carriage means to first tip and secondly raise said carriage means in said frame upon operation of said hydraulic means, first conveyor means secured to said frame to transfer a full parts container into said carriage means when said carriage means is adjacent thereto, and second conveyor means vertically spaced from said first conveyor means and secured to said frame to transfer a parts container from said carriage means when said carriage means is adjacent thereto.

lO. Apparatus for tipping and raising a parts container for accessibility to a production assembly lineY comprising a frame; carriage means slidably and pivotally secured in said frame; hydraulic means secured to said frame and operatively connected to said carriage means to iirst tip and secondly raise said carriage means in said frame on operation of said hydraulic means; and conveyor means secured to said frame to transfer a parts container to and from said carriage means when said carriage means is properly positioned with respect thereto; said carriage means including a plurality of rollers in said carriage to receive a parts container therein, slide blocks secured to said carriage and slidably received in said frame to guide the vertical movement of said carriage within said frame, pivot means secured to said carriage and received in said frame to allow pivotal movement of said carriage Within said frame and about the forward end of said carriage, cam means secured to said carriage and abutting said frame at the upper limit of the pivotal movement of said carriage `to prevent further pivotal movement of said carriage about the front end thereof; said hydraulic means including a cylinder secured to said frame and having a piston therein `and a piston rod axially extending therefrom, a sheave Wheel rotatably secured to the outer end of said piston rod, a pulley secured to said frame above said carriage means, and a cable secured to said frame and passing around said sheave wheel and around said pulley and secured to said carriage means to first pivot and secondly raise said carriage means upon actuation of said piston within said cylinder; said conveyor means including a iirst conveyor secured to said frame to transfer a full parts container into said carriage means when said carriage means is adjacent thereto, and a second .conveyor vertically spaced from said first conveyor and secured to said frame to transfer said parts container from said carriage means when said carriage means is adjacent thereto.

References Cited vin the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

